Intoxicated driver capability tester

ABSTRACT

An intoxicated driver capability tester comprising a bridge circuit for producing an unbalanced output by detecting alcohol, a NOT circuit for producing an output 1 when said unbalanced output is more than a reference value, a display device for random numbers which is activated by one output of the NOT circuit, and a NAND gate for receiving the other output of the NOT circuit as one input thereof and receiving the output of the display device for random numbers as the other input thereof.

United States Patent Inose et al. June 24, 1975 [54] INTOXICATED DRIVERCAPABILITY 3,600,134 1 gainer 73/27 R 3,607,095 1 tz inger TESTFER3,695,848 10/1972 Taguchi [7 Inventors: Fumiyuki Inose; Takail i, o h3,755,776 8/1973 Kotras 340/53 of Kokubunji; Hideki Kohno, Tokyo an ofJapan Primary Examiner-Donald O. Woodiel [73] Assjgnee: Hitachi, Ltd.,Japan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Craig & Antonelli [22] Filed: Mar. 16,1973 [21] Appl No.: 341,844 [57] ABSTRACT An intoxicated drivercapability tester comprising a Foreign Appllcatlon Priority Data bridgecircuit for producing an unbalanced output by Mar. 17, 1972 Ja an47-27863 detecting alcohol, a NOT circuit for producing an output 1 whensaid unbalanced output is more than a ref- [52] US. Cl 73/27 R erencevalue, a display device for random numbers [51] Int. Cl. G01n 31/00which is activated by one output of the NOT circuit, [58] Field ofSearch 73/27 R, 421.5 R, 432 R; and a NAND gate for receiving the otheroutput of the 180/99; 340/53, 279; 128/2 C NOT circuit as one inputthereof and receiving the output of the display device for randomnumbers as [56] References Cited the other input thereof.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 C 4 Dr F 3,552,930 1/1971 Borkenstein 73/4215 Rawmg 3 NAND ALCOHOL K DETECTING NOT DEVICE l/ 2, 4 DECI DING M DEVICE VPATENTEDJUN 24 1915 FIG.

ALCOHOL DETECTING DEVICE DECI DING DEVICE PIC-3.3

FIG.2

FIG.4

INTOXICATED DRIVER CAPABILITY TESTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates to an intoxicated drivercapability tester and particularly to a device detecting the degree ofintoxication and deciding the adaptability for automobile driving.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many traffic accidents arise inintoxicated driving. For preventing them, it is necessary to decidewhether a driver is too intoxicated to safely drive an automobile ornot. One example of such well-known deciding device includes a devicewherein the driver is shown random numbers for a while and after therandom numbers are removed, the driver pushes buttons of said devicedepending on his memory so as to input the same random numbers, and thedrivers capability for driving is decided from the speed and accuracy ofhis push-button-operation, and then when it is decided that the driveris not adaptable for driving the device functions to prevent the enginefrom being started for a predetermined time interval. This device hasdefects in that the driver must carry out the above test every timebefore driving even if he has not taken any alcohol or even when he hasan urgent business and the test is very troublesome. Further, it ispossible that the driver is in a hurry so that he could not operatecorrectly the device, resulting in failure to start the engine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide anintoxicated driver capability tester to decide rapidly and reliablywhether an intoxicated driver has the capability of driving or not.

In order to accomplish such object, the intoxicated driver capabilitytester according to the invention comprises in combination a detectingdevice to detect the amount of alcohol in a drivers body and a device todecide the capability of driver, whereby in case that the amount ofalcohol in a drivers body is detected to be less than a predeterminedvalue, the tester permits the engine to be started without deciding thecapability of the driver for driving.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing theconstruction of an embodiment according to this invention.

FIGS. 2 and 4 show respective embodiments of alcohol detecting devicesaccording to this invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operating characteristics of the devicesshown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagramshowing the construction of an embodiment, in which numeral 1 designatesa detecting device to detect the amount of alcohol in a drivers body andto produce an output signal 1 (high level) in case that the amount ofalcohol is less than a predetermined value, and (low level) in case thatit is larger than the predetermined value.

Numeral 2 designates a deciding device of capability for driving whichmay be of a type of the conventional display device for random numbers.The deciding device 2 is activated by an output 0 of the detectingdevice I, that is, when the amount of alcohol is larger than apredetermined value, and produces an output I when it is decided thatthe driver is capable to drive the vehicle and an output 0 when it isdecided the driving is not to be permitted. Numerals 3 and 4 designateNOT circuits and numeral 5 designates a NAND circuit. The circuits 3, 4and 5 constitute a circuit of logical sum.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit construction of an alcoholdetecting device beingemployed in the invention, which utilizes the fact that the temperatureof a temperature-sensitive element connected in a bridge circuit changesits temperature depending or the amount of alcohol. Numeral 21designates a power source for the bridge circuit, numerals 22, 23, 24and 25 designate resistance elements composing an electrical bridge,numeral 26 designates an output terminal, numeral 27 designates a maintube for expiration to be measured, numeral 28 designates an inlet tube,numeral 29 designates an outlet tube. The resistance elements 24, 25 areboth exposed to the expiration. The resistance elements 24 and 25 havecharacteristics such that their resistances vary by application ofalcohol, and the characteristics of them are different for alcohol butnot for other fluids.

For example, the temperature-sensitive elements 24 and 25 are made ofresistance wires having a temperature coefficient, and one of them, forexample the wire 25 is coated a chemical catalyzer such as a platinumblack which reacts oxidation with a specific material so that it is ableto measure the amount of the material from the difference in temperaturedue to heating by chemical reaction. This measurement operation isdescribed with reference to FIG. 3. An amount of heat transmission AQ isgiven in the abscissa and the ordinate shows resistance values R and Rof the elements 24 and 25. AG is the sum of a heat quality 1 R inselfheating by a bridge current and a heat quantity 8Q produced bychemical reaction and/or transmitted by thermal conduction, thermalradiation, thermal convection and heat transmission. The resistances of24 and 25 are held at a resistance value corresponding to thetemperature determined by the balancing of 1 R and 80. A curve 10 showsa characteristic of the resistance 24 in FIG. 2 and a curve 11 showsthat of the resistance 25. At first, the bridge circuit is balanced atthe points of a and b. The values R and R of the resistances 24 and 25are determined depending on the impedance values of the branches 22 and23 of the bridge circuit. When an alcohol flows in the tube 27 throughthe inlet tube 28, the catalyzer activates chemical reaction, thetemperature value of the resistance element 25 is changed andconsequently, the resistance value of the element 25 is shifted to bfrom b and then there exists a difference AR between the resistances ofthe elements 24 and 25. The balancing state of the bridge is changed andthe variation is given as an output at the output terminal 26.

A comparator (not shown) receives that variation as one input and avoltage corresponding to a predetermined amount of alcohol as the otherinput. By comparing both inputs the comparator produces an output 0 incase the variation is over a predetermined standard value and produces Iwhen it is less than the standard value.

In that case, an amount of alcohol to be detected is able to increase ordecrease by changing the standard value.

The resistance values of 24 and 25 are possible to change from a and bto a and b by fluids, other than alcohol, contained in the expiration ofa driver or by the change of composition of the fluid, thereby producingan undesired difference AR, resulting in producing an output of the sumof AR and AR at the output terminal 26. Thus, the device indicates adifferent value from the correct value AR.

The value of AR appears as an error by the disagreement of thecharacteristics curves l and 11 of the temperature-sensitive elements 24and 25 as shown in FIG. 3.

Accordingly, adjusting resistances are provided at the branches of thebridge circuits in series or parallel with the temperature-sensitiveelements 24 and 25, in order to make the characteristics and 11 of theelements 24 and 25 substantially identical. Numerals 24 and 25'designate variable resistors provided in series with thetemperature-sensitive elements at the respective branches of the bridgecircuit. Other numeral numbers indicate the same elements as those inFIG. 2. Since the variable resisters 24 and 25' are connected in serieswith the temperature-sensitive elements 24 and 25, the resistances ofthe branches provided with the elements 24 and 25 are changeable.Accordingly, the characteristic curves 10 and 11 described in FIG. 3 arerespectively changeable. As the expiration without alcohol component isentered into the device through the inlet tube 28, the variableresisters 24' and 25 are adjusted so as to make the point a" be inagreement with the point b in FIG. 3 thereby making the characteristiccurves 10 and 11 substantially identical. After thus being adjusted, theresistance values of the variable resisters 24 and 25 are fixed. Then,the bridge circuit is in a condition that the error AR is eliminated.

The operation of an embodiment employing the alcohol-detecting device asabove mentioned is de' scribed hereunder. In case that the alcoholcontained in drivers expiration is less than a predetermined standardvalue, the alcohol-detecting device 1 produces an output 1 which isapplied to the NOT circuit 3, and the NOT circuit produces an output 0which is applied to the NAND circuit 5 as an input and which is appliedto the deciding device 2 of capability for driving as a control signal.When the output of the NOT circuit 3 is 0, the operation of the decidingdevice is not started. Since the input 0 is applied to the NAND circuit5, the output 1 is produced from the NAND circuit 5, and the displaydevice (not shown) displays the state that the driver is capable ofdriving.

Next, in case that the alcohol contained in drivers expiration is morethan the predetermined standard value, the alcohol-detecting device 1produces an output 0 which is applied to the NOT circuit 3, and the NOTcircuit 3 produces an output 1 which is applied to the NAND circuit 5 asan input and which is applied to the deciding device 2 of capability fordriving as a control signal. When the output of the NOT circuit 3 is l,the operation of the deciding device is started and the driverscapability is decided by means of the display of random numbers. If itdecides that the driver is capable of driving, an output 1 is producedfrom the deciding device 2 and the output 1 is put in the NOT circuit 4,then an output 0 is produced from the NOT circuit 4 and an output 1 isproduced from the NAND gate 5 and then the display device indicates thestate that the driver is capable of driving. However, if the driverscapability is denied as a result of the test by means of the display ofrandom numbers, an output 0 is produced from the deciding device 2 andthe output is put in the NOT circuit 4 and thereby an output 1 isproduced from the NOT circuit 4 and is put in the NAND circuit 5 asanother input. Thus, the NAND circuit is supplied with an input 1 ateach of the input terminals, and hence an output 0 is given from theNAND circuit 5, and the state that the driving is impossible isdisplayed. The output 0 of the NAND circuit 5 may be utilized to operatea relay (not shown) thereby cutting off the cell motor of an engine froma power source or making the engine key inoperative to start the engine.

As above mentioned, in case that the drivers alcohol is less than apredetermined standard value, the state that driving is possible isimmediately decided, and in case that the drivers alcohol is more thanthe standard value the driving capability is further tested. Thus, thedegree of intoxication is rapidly determined and the dangerous drive byan intoxicated driver is prevented.

We claim: 1. An intoxicated driver capability tester comprising: meansfor detecting alcohol in a drivers body which generates a first outputsignal when the amount of alcohol in the drivers body is less than apredetermined reference value and which generates a second output signalwhen the amount of alcohol in the drivers body is greater than thepredetermined reference value; first signal generating means forgenerating a third output signal when the first output signal is appliedfrom said alcohol detecting means and for generating a fourth outputsignal when the second output signal is applied from said alcoholdetecting means;

means for deciding a drivers capability for driving, said deciding meansbeing responsive to the fourth output signal from said first signalgenerating means for initiating an operation to be effected by thedriver to determine the drivers capability for driving, said decidingmeans being responsive to the operation effected by the driver forgenerating a fifth output signal when the driver is in a state capableof driving and for generating a sixth output signal when the driver isnot in a state capable of driving;

second signal generating means for generating a seventh output signalwhen the fifth output signal is applied from said deciding means and forgenerating an eighth output signal when the sixth output signal isapplied from said deciding means; and third signal generating meanshaving one input for receiving the output signals from said first signalgenerating means and another input for receiving the output signals fromsaid second signal generating means, said third signal generating meansgenerating a ninth output signal indicative of a state capable ofdriving in response to said third output signal being applied to the oneinput thereof, generating a tenth output signal indicative of a statecapable of driving in response to said seventh output signal beingapplied to the another input thereof, and generating an eleventh outputsignal indicative of a state not capable of driving in response to thefourth output signal being applied to the one input thereof and theeighth output signal being applied to the another input thereof.

2. An intoxicated driver capability tester according to claim 1; whereineach of said first and second signal generating means includes a NOTcircuit, and said third signal generating means includes a NAND circuit.

3. An intoxicated driver capability tester according to claim 2, whereinsaid alcohol detecting means comprises a bridge circuit, at least onebranch of which includes an impedance element whose impedance isadaptable to change by application of alcohol, a power source connectedto said bridge circuit, and comparator means for comparing an unbalanceoutput of said bridge circuit with the predetermined reference value,said unbalance output of the bridge circuit being produced by theimpedance variation of said impedance element by alcohol.

4. An intoxicated driver capability tester according to claim 3, whereinsaid impedance element includes a temperature compensation impedanceelement.

5. An intoxicated driver capability tester according to claim 1, whereinsaid alcohol detecting means comprises a bridge circuit, at least onebranch of which includes an impedance element whose impedance isadaptable to change by application of alcohol, a power source connectedto said bridge circuit, and comparator means for comparing an unbalanceoutput of said bridge circuit with the predetermined reference value,said unbalance output of the bridge circuit being produced by theimpedance variation of said impedance element by alcohol.

6. An intoxicated driver capability tester according to claim 5, whereinsaid impedance element includes a temperature compensation impedanceelement.

7. An intoxicated river capability tester comprising:

means for detecting the alcohol content in a drivers body and forrespectively providing first and sec- 0nd output signals indicative ofthe alcohol content being below and above a predetermined referencevalue; means for deciding a drivers capability for driving, saiddeciding means being responsive to the second output signal from saidalcohol detecting means for initiating an operation thereof to beeffected by the driver to determine the drivers capability for driving,said deciding means being responsive to the operation effected by thedriver for providing a third output signal indicative of the driverbeing in a state capable of driving and for providing a fourth outputsignal indicative of the driver not being in a state capable of driving;and

signal generating means having a first input for receiving the outputsignals from said alcohol detecting means and a second input forreceiving the output signal from said deciding means, said signalgenerating means providing a fifth output signal indicative of a statecapable of driving in response to the first output signal being appliedto the one input thereof, providing a second output signal indicativeofa state capable of driving in response to the third output signalbeing applied to the another input thereof, and providing a seventhoutput signal indicative of a state not capable of driving in responseto the second output signal being applied to the one input thereof andthe fourth output signal being applied to the another input thereof.

8. An intoxicated driver capability tester according to claim 7, whereineach of said alcohol detecting means and said deciding means includesNOT circuit means at the output stages thereof, and said signalgenerating means includes a NAND circuit.

=l l l= l=

1. An intoxicated driver capability tester comprising: means fordetecting alcohol in a driver''s body which generates a first outputsignal when the amount of alcohol in the driver''s body is less than apredetermined reference value and which generates a second output signalwhen the amount of alcohol in the driver''s body is greater than thepredetermined reference value; first signal generating means forgenerating a third output signal when the first output signal is appliedfrom said alcohol detecting means and for generating a fourth outputsignal when the second output signal is applied from said alcoholdetecting means; means for deciding a driver''s capability for driving,said deciding means being responsive to the fourth output signal fromsaid first signal generating means for initiating an operation to beeffected by the driver to determine the driver''s capability fordriving, said deciding means being responsive to the operation effectedby the driver for generating a fifth output signal when the driver is ina state capable of driving and for generating a sixth output signal whenthe driver is not in a state capable of driving; second signalgenerating means for generating a seventh output signal when the fifthoutput signal is applied from said deciding means and for generating aneighth output signal when the sixth output signal is applied from saiddeciding means; and third signal generating means having one input forreceiving the output signals from said first signal generating means andanother input for receiving the output signals from said second signalgenerating means, said third signal generating means generating a ninthoutput signal indicative of a state capable of driving in response tosaid third output signal being applied to the one input thereof,generating a tenth output signal indicative of a state capable ofdriving in response to said seventh output signal being applied to theanother input thereof, and generating an eleventh output signalindicative of a state not capable of driving in response to the fourthoutput signal being applied to the one input thereof and the eighthoutput signal being applied to the another input thereof.
 2. Anintoxicated driver capability tester according to claim 1; wherein eachof said first and second signal generating means includes a NOT circuit,and said third signal generating means includes a NAND circuit.
 3. Anintoxicated driver capability tester according to claim 2, wherein saidalcohol detecting means comprises a bridge circuit, at least one branchof which includes an impedance element whose impedance is adaptable tochange by application of alcohol, a power source connected to saidbridge circuit, and comparator means for comparing an unbalance outputof said bridge circuit with the predetermined reference value, saidunbalance output of the bridge circuit being produced by the impedancevariation of said impedance element by alcohol.
 4. An intoxicated drivercapability tester according to claim 3, wherein said impedance elementincludes a temperature compensation impedance element.
 5. An intoxicateddriver capability tester according to claim 1, wherein said alcoholdetecting means comprises a bridge circuit, at least one branch of wHichincludes an impedance element whose impedance is adaptable to change byapplication of alcohol, a power source connected to said bridge circuit,and comparator means for comparing an unbalance output of said bridgecircuit with the predetermined reference value, said unbalance output ofthe bridge circuit being produced by the impedance variation of saidimpedance element by alcohol.
 6. An intoxicated driver capability testeraccording to claim 5, wherein said impedance element includes atemperature compensation impedance element.
 7. An intoxicated rivercapability tester comprising: means for detecting the alcohol content ina driver''s body and for respectively providing first and second outputsignals indicative of the alcohol content being below and above apredetermined reference value; means for deciding a driver''s capabilityfor driving, said deciding means being responsive to the second outputsignal from said alcohol detecting means for initiating an operationthereof to be effected by the driver to determine the driver''scapability for driving, said deciding means being responsive to theoperation effected by the driver for providing a third output signalindicative of the driver being in a state capable of driving and forproviding a fourth output signal indicative of the driver not being in astate capable of driving; and signal generating means having a firstinput for receiving the output signals from said alcohol detecting meansand a second input for receiving the output signal from said decidingmeans, said signal generating means providing a fifth output signalindicative of a state capable of driving in response to the first outputsignal being applied to the one input thereof, providing a second outputsignal indicative of a state capable of driving in response to the thirdoutput signal being applied to the another input thereof, and providinga seventh output signal indicative of a state not capable of driving inresponse to the second output signal being applied to the one inputthereof and the fourth output signal being applied to the another inputthereof.
 8. An intoxicated driver capability tester according to claim7, wherein each of said alcohol detecting means and said deciding meansincludes NOT circuit means at the output stages thereof, and said signalgenerating means includes a NAND circuit.